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Publisher's Description

PowerDirector features end-to-end support for high definition video, from importing to editing and output, and includes advanced authoring features for Blu-ray Discs and DVDs. To enhance users' creativity even more, PowerDirector provides direct access to unlimited effects and transitions on DirectorZone, CyberLink's online community dedicated to video editors.

So come and share your customized effects using PowerDirector's built-in design tools, and contribute to a growing catalog of effects other PowerDirector users can download. Version 7 adds end-to-end high-definition video support, including AVCHD2; adds full support for Blu-ray Disc authoring; supports 6 independent PiP video tracks, features disc authoring with stunning new menu templates and real DVD subtitles option.

For me I love it`s simplicity ,I tell I do not know how many other different programs out there that I have already tried and only to become totally frustrated with those programs.so you can say this was a blessing when I came across it.

Very Powerful with many great features, you can edit and creat amazing videos and dvd menu's, and burn your project using the one software!!

Cons

It does have a problem handing you using all of the features on the one project!

Summary

I love this product because it allows me to display up to 6 videos at the same time , its effect room is full of unbelievable effects , PIP feature adds amazing look to my videos.Tthe use of directorzone and freesound turns my boring home videos into Amazing movie's for everyone to enjoy.

I've almost made a video despite the application crashing. This means I taught myself relatively quickly without any built in help functionality of guides in spite of the app. Good effects.

Cons

Crashes non-stop and it took me 30 minutes to find an email to tech support. Don't try calling, there is no ph # on the site. There is no easy access to tech support. Default settings don't stick. Timeline a bit difficult. Could be easier to clip.

Summary

Don't expect help if you need it. I am buying Adobe Premier Elements even though it was rated lower because I know I can get help and their products work with 64 bit processors. I also expect a variety of help material and not have tech support hidden deep in a website or no phone support options readily available.

It might work great on a 32 bit system, which I'm going to try if I can get a reply to my email to tech support, but as a small business owner I don't have time for CyberLink's business model of email support.

Relatively easy to learn. Very full featured with lots of automated routines to help you edit any video format. It's is able to accept HD files in MPEG 2 & 4, and even AVCHD formats. It renders and processes video files very well.

Cons

Learning curve maybe a little steep because it isn't as user friendly as some other programs, but if you take your time and practice on it for a few days, you should be able to master all of the basics.

Summary

This program is fantastic. It's hard to imagine all of this power for so little. It provides a deep library of special effects, titling, color correction, time line or storyboard views, automatic video editing project modules, and lots of room to grow if you are thinking about producing professional grade videos. For more everyday uses such as putting together slideshows and home movies, you'll love the auto routines to help you on your way.

PowerDirector 7 is an excellent program. But if you haven't cleaned your registry, and if you don't know what this means, this will probably be the source of a lot of your problems with this program. You need a well tuned PC and that means cleaning out your registry. You can get these programs for free anywhere...just make sure you use a good one or you'll damage your PC beyond repair. Other than this, PowerDirector should prove to be a really great program for anyone who wants to edit and produce videos without it costing an arm and a leg.

Updated on Dec 7, 2008

I bought the full retail version after I tried out the trial version. Unfortunately, the trial actually worked better than the retail version. I was totally unable to burn my video project to DVD when ever I needed to incorporate the supplied DVD menus in the program. Previously, this worked. But now, all I get is error messages that state the DVD failed to burn. Thanks, I already knew that.

After combing the cyberlink site for answers, it is apparent that the moderator there has no answers at all and is only serving as a way to calm down customers. The forum leader has absolutely no understanding of the problems the users are going through and offers lame advice such as, "Did you reinstall the program? Turn off the virus protection. Did you reinstall your firmware for your DVD?" The users follow his advice and find out that it's worth as much as a 3 dollar bill.

The programmers have known about this problem since earlier this year. My rating goes down to 2 stars until the fix it.

It will work with 512 mb RAM if you let it take its time and don't keep clicking about. Regarding crashing, it's a lot more stable than the Pinnacle bloatware and Vegas and Ulead video software.

Cons

The clips/movies functions in the preview box are a bit annoying. Sometimes I think I'm playing the whole movie, unaware that it has reverted to playing just a clip, so then I have to change it back to 'movie'.

Summary

I've made some excellent movies and slideshows, complete with PIP objects, effects, zooming, Smart music, freesound and great transitions. You can use the Magic Movie maker if you're doubtful.
I can insert many titles per one project and just drag things into the time line so I don't understand why Herrgarmen is having problems. You need to practice and there is a learning curve but it's worth it.

Pros: This is a wonderful software with easy to use features! And it's effects are simply astounding!! There are tons of them, and they're so creative!

Cons

Cons: I work with animated clips, so the import thing keeps telling me it's just a picture, not a moving, animated clip! So now I have to run all my clips through windows movie maker, save them to my computer in video format, and THEN import them!

Summary

It's great for homemade videos, professional videos, and even animated videos (even with the whole importing issue)! I like it.

Lots of good features. It's user-friendly, but still capable of producing good-looking effects.

Cons

It's hugely unreliable. Expect to spend about 2 minutes recovering from program crashes and fixing messes that glitches have caused for every one minute you spend editing.

Summary

I've been working all week on a video project, and I've had to deal with things like:- my project refusing to open- the program randomly crashing- deletion of my project file during a particularly bad crash- audio going out of sync despite the fact that it is still anchored to the main video track

And just minutes ago, the program muted all of the audio attached to the main clips for no reason. The audio is not deleted, it's just inaudible. Producing a video from the project when it's like this renders the video file without audio. Restarting the program and the computer have both failed to restore it. Reverting to copies of earlier saves fails as well, since the program refuses to open them for some reason. I have been trying to finish this one day project for four days because of this program.

Bottom line --------------- Lots of promise, but the bugs make it almost unusable. I wish this program had feelings so I could hurt them.

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